And boston



(No Model.)

F. W. COLE. NoN-INTERPBRBNGE SIGNAL B0X.

No. 553,839. Patented Feb. 4, 1.896..

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.,

FREDERICK W. COLE, OF NEVTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, TO THE UNITED STATES FIRE AND POLICE TELEGRAPH COMPANY, OFPORTLAND, MAINE, AND BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

NON-INTERFERENCE SIGNAL-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 553,839, dated February4, 1896.

Application filed March 7, 1891. Serial No. 384,072. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t 71u03/ concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK W. COLE, of Newton, county of Middlesex,State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Non-InterferenceSignal-Boxes, of which the following description, in connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a specification like letters and figures onthe drawings representing like parts.

1o This invention has for its object to improve the construction ofsignal-boxes, being especially applicable to that class of signalboxesknown as successive non-interference boxes.

The invention consists in the combination, with signaling mechanism, anon-interference magnet and its armature adapted to move out of itsmagnetic field, of signal-controlling and retaining mechanism operatedto retain a set 2o signal bythe said armature when moved out of itsmagnetic field and to release said retained signal when said armature isrestored; also in the combination, with signaling` mechanism, anon-interference magnet and its ar- 2 5 mature adapted to move out ofits magnetic field, of signal controlling and retaining mechanismoperated to retain a set signal by the said armature when moved ont ofits inagnetic iield and to release said retained signal 3o when saidarmature is restored, and timing mechanism holding the signal-circuitclosed a longer time than the longest closure in any signal beforegiving the control of the line to the signal-wheel; also in thecombination,

3 5 with signaling mechanism, a non-interference magnet and its armatureadapted to move out of its magnetic field or field of force, of asignal-controller governed by said armature, and means controlled by thetrain in running 4o for holding the signaling-key with itscircuitcontacts closed during one round of the signal-wheel at eachoperation of the box; also in the combination, with signaling mechanism,a non-interference magnet and its armature, of a signal-controllergoverned by said armature, and a stopping device for the train, one ofthe co-operating members of which is governed by the said armature, anda restoring device operated by the train in running 5o for ,Cstoringsaid armature; also in the combination, with a signaling-train, of astopping device consisting of two members, one of which is controlledbythe non-interference magnet and the other by a hand-operated pull orequivalent signaling-lever; also in the com- 5 5 bination of partswhich, by their co-operation, enable the signaling-train to be wound ateach operation of the pull or signaling lever more than sufficient forthe operation of the si gnaling-train in the transmission of one 6ocomplete signal, whereby a force may be accumulated; also in manydetails of construction to be hereinafter pointed out.

Figure l shows in side view a successive non-interference signal-boxembodying this invention, the pull being omitted; Fig. 2, a plan view ofthe signal'box shown in Fig. l, the non-interference magnet and aportion of the frame being omitted; and Figs. 3 and 4, sectional detailsto be referred to. 7o

The signaling mechanism herein shown consists of a toothed wheel a,loosely mounted on a shaft a" and engaging a pinion a2, secured to ashaft n3, which carries a toothed wheel a4, engaging a pinion a5,secured to a shaft a, carrying a toothed wheel a7, which engages apinion as, secured to a shaft a9, carrying an escape-wheel am, which isengaged by a suitable pallet'a12. The signal-wheel als is placed on theshaft a, with which co-operates a sig- 8o nalin g-key a, pivoted at L15and carrying one of the circuit making' and breaking contacts 2. A blockal is secured to the framework, which supports a yielding pin or arm a,carrying the other circuit making and breaking 8 5 contact Thenon-interference magnet b is supported by the framework, its armatureZ2' being carried by a lever b2, pivoted at b3 to the framework, saidlever being extended, as at b4, and 9o carrying a pen b5;

A locking-bar bs, sleeved on the shaft a3 and. lying diametricallyacross the toothed wheel a4, has at each end a locking` projection, as57, said projections extending through holes in the said toothed wheela4, and vsaid bar is pressed into its forward position, as representedin Figs. 2 and 4, by a spring bs.

lVhen the armature is attracted, the outer end of the lever b4 will liein the path of moveroo nient of the pins Z17 to engage one or the otherof them and thereby stop the train, such members constituting thestopping device for the train.

The sleeve Z10 of the bar Z10 has on it two projections Z110 Z110,extending in opposite directions and at right angles with relation tothe bar Z10. The faces of each projection are beveled or inclined, andon the shaft a a disk Z112 is fastened which has several beveled-facedprojections Z113 on its periphery, one or another of which will engageone of the projections Z110, and as the beveled faces act one upon theother the bar Z10 will be moved rearwardly against the tension of thespring Z18 and will thereby withdraw its projections or pins Z17 fromengagement with the lever Z11 to release the train when the disk isrevolved.

The disk Z112 forms part of a barrel L11, which receives the mainspring, one end of which is attached to said barrel and the other end tothe hub c on the toothed wheel a. The barrel Z114 is fixed on the shaftd, and the toothed wheel a is mounted loosely on the said shaft. A pawlc is pivoted to the disk Z112, and is held pressed into engagement witha ratchettoothed wheel by a spring C0. The ratchettoothed wheel c2 isheld in fixed position by pins or studs c1, secured to the framework.The ratchet-toothed wheel c5 (shown in dotted lines, Fig. l, and fulllines, Figs. 2 and 3) is also fixed to the shaft a', and the winding armor pull e is pivoted to the door of the box or face-plate ci, whichcarries a spring-pressed pawl e0, which engages the said ratchettoothedwheel. As the pull e0 is depressed ,the ratchet-wheel c will be rotateda distance equal to one or more teeth, the shaft a correspondinglyrotating` the disk Z112 so that one of its pins or projections Z113engages one of the projections Z110 and moves the bar Z1G longitudinallyon'the shaft cl3 to thereby release the train. By this means it will beseen that the main spring may be wound and the train released, and theparts are so proportioned that the main spring may be wound at eachoperation of the pull a0 enough for several signals, on which accountsaid pull will be known as an aceummulative pull or winding device.

There is arranged on the wheel (l a tia-nge C10, which engages aprojection 012 on the spring-pressed pawl c when the disk has been moveda certain distance independently of the toothed wheel ctv-as, forinstance, when the spring has been completely woundan d when so engagingthe pawl c holds said pawl and prevents it from enteringthe next toothof the ratchet-wheel c2. A stopping device C is also arranged on thebarrel Z111, which acts as a stop for the wheel a, it being in the pathof the flange C10 as the spring runs down. This winding mechanism may beapplied to any other form of signaling mechanism than that herein shown.

An arm CZ extends from the circuit-changing lever (L11 having ashouldered end (Z, with which the pin Zi on the arm Z11 of thearmaturecarrying lever co-operates.

The signal-wheel herein shown is made to maintain the signaling-circuitclosed all the time except during short intervals for the signalimpulses-that is to say, during the intervals of time between theseveral groups of numbers on the signal-wheel the signalingcircuit willbe closed, and said wheel is herein. shown as having on it one round,although. a `wheel having several rounds on it may be employed.

Then the signaling-train is let off or operated and the armature remainsattracted, as represented in Fig. l, the signal will be transmittedwithout interruption, the pin Zf occupying a fixed position in a recessor space just above the shoulder CZ of the arm (Z at the time thecircuit is open at the home box, so as to mechanically hold the armaturein its attracted position when the magnet is demagnetized. f

The home box is intended to mean that box which is being operated, incontradistinction to the other boxes in the circuit. lf thesignaling-circuit is opened during the time the circuit is closed att-he home box, the armature will be retracted and the pin Z11 will passdown over the shoulder d of the arm (l to thereby mechanically hold thecircuit-chan ging lever C611 from operating. The retractile spring isdesigned to move the armature Z1 out of the magnetic iield when themagnet is demagnetized and the armature released, and when so moved itwill there remain until positively restored, and during such time thesignaling-circuit will be kept closed at the home box, although thesignaling-train and signal-wheel may be operated.

The lever Z12 carrying the armature has a projection Z120, (see dottedlines, Fig. 1,) and pins 4f are placed on the toothed wheel a1, two suchpins being herein shown, located substantially diametrically oppositeeach other, one or the other of which will strike the said projectionZ120 and restore the armature to its attracted position immediatelyafter the locking-pin Z1T has passed by the outer or engaging end of thearm Z11. These pins are arranged to restore the armature prior to thebeginning of a round of the signal, and as it is very important that thearmature should be restored and the line under the influence of thenoninterference magnet only for a longer time than the longest closurein any signal, and as the closures in the signaling-circuit by thesignal-wheel herein shown are exceedingly long, I have provided meansfor accomplishing this result, which herein consists of short arms orholders e c, fixed to the shaft d0, one or the other of which willengage a projection e of the circuit-changin g lever (L11 and hold thesaid lever against vibration and with the circuit-contacts closed such alength of time.

In lieu of the holders c e, which operate mechanically to hold thecircuit-changing lever or sign alin g-key, said holders may close IOO ashunt for the signal-Wheel or otherwise prevent the signal beingtransmitted, and at the same time keep the non-interference magnet incircuit. As herein shown, the arm e will hold the lever L14 during acomplete round of the signal-Wheel cl3, and it is during this time thatthe pin 4E operates to restore the armature Z9.

While I do not desire to limit my invention to this particular means forholding the circuit-lever from vibrating this predetermined length oftime, similar means controlled by the train in running may be employed.

If, when the boX is pulled, the line is found to be opened, as by thetransmission of a signal from a distant box, the armature willimmediately retract and moves out of the mag-A, netic field, but isimmediately restored by the pin 4, and as said pin passes by the shortarm b2() the armature Will again retract if the line continues to remainopen, and moves out of the magnetic eld, Where it remains, holding thecircuit-lever a from vibrating, and with the circuit-contacts closed bymeans of the arm b4. The parts Will remain in this condition until theopposite pin 4 on the Wheel a4 arrives in position to engage the shortarm h2o and restore the armature; and when said pin 4 arrives inposition to aecomplish such result the arm or holder e also arrives inposition to again. hold the arm alt with the circuit-contacts 2 3closed, independent of the arm b4. The time consumed by the train inrunning after the said pin 4i has restored the armature, and before thebeginning of the next succeeding round is longer than the longestclosure in any signal, and if the armature remains attracted during thislength of time the signal can then be transmitted. It is during thistime that the arm e acts to hold the arm @14, and to keep thecircuit-contacts 2 3 closed. The arm e, however, passes by the lug orprojection c just before the beginning of the next succeeding round.This arm b4 carried or moved by the armature adapted to be moved out ofits magnetic field, and the arm CZ, having the shouldered end portion dco-operating With the pin b5 on the arm b4, herein constitute the signalcontrolling and retaining mechanism; but l do not desire to limit myinvention to the particular form of signal controlling and retainingmechanism herein shoWn, as it is obvious that it may be changed and yetcome Within the spirit and scope of this invention; also this group ofelements may be made to simply cut out or render inoperative thesignaling mechanism, in which instance said mechanism Will operate onlyas a signal-controller, and the arm b4 will constitute the essentialelement.

I do not desire to limit my invention to its application to a signalingmechanism having a circuit-changing lever with contacts, as 2 3, and asignal- Wheel for operating the said lever, as it is obvious that anyother Wellknown or suitable form of box-number circuit-changing devicemay be employed, and furthermore I do not desire to limit my inventionto the application of signaling mechanism wherein the aforesaidcircuit-chan gin g lever is held positively from vibrating, as thesignal- Wheel may be otherwise prevented from transmitting its signal.

I claiml l. In a non-interference signal-box, a signaling mechanism, anon-interference magnet and its armature adapted to move out of thefield of force, a signal-controller governed by said armature, and astopping device for the train, one of the co-operating members of Whichis governed by the said armature, and a restoring device operated by thetrain in running for restoring the said armature substantially asdescribed.

2. In anon-interference signal-box, signaling mechanism, anon-interference magnet and its armature adapted to move out of thefield of force, a signal-controller governed by said armature, and astopping device for the train, one of the co-operating members of whichis governedby the said armature, and a restoring device operated by thetrain in running for restoring the said armature, and means controlledby the train in running for holding the signaling-circuit closed for alonger time than the longest closure in any signal just before givingthe control of the said circuit to the signal-Wheel substantially asdescribed.

3. In a successive non-interference signalboX, signaling mechanism, anon-interference magnet and its armature adapted to move out of itsmagnetic field, combined with signal controlling and retaining mechanismfor retaining and thereafter permitting the transmission of the setsignal, said signal-retaining device being adapted to retain the setsignal by the retracting-armature, and to permit the transmission of theretained signal when in its attracted position, and a restoring deviceoperated by the train in running for restoring said retracted armature,substantially as described.

4. In a successive non-interference signalboX, signaling mechanism, anon-interference magnet and its armature adapted to move out of itsmagnetic field, combined With signal controlling and retaining mechanismfor retaining and thereafter releasing the set signal, said mechanismbeing operated to retain the set signal by the retracting-armature, andto release it When said armature is in its attracted position, and arestoring device operated by the train in running for restoring saidretracted armature, and means controlled by the train in running forholding the signaling-circuit closed for a longer time than the longestclosure in any signal just before the beginning of a succeeding round,substantially as described.

ICO

IIO

5. In a successive non-interference signalboX, signaling mechanism, anon-interference magnet and its armature adapted to move out of itsmagnetic field, combined with signal controlling and retaining mechanismoperated to retain a set signal by the said armature when moved out ofits magnetic field, and to release said retained signal when saidarmature is restored, substantially as described.

G. In a non-interference signal-box, a sig- Daling-train combined with astopping device consisting of tWo members one of which is controlled bythe non-interference magnet, and the other by a hand-operated pull,substantially as described.

7. In a signal-box, a signaling-train combined with a Winding mechanismtherefor, consisting of a barrel and toothed driving- Wheel, a mainspring connected at one end to the barrel and at the other end to thewheel, a fixed ratchet-Wheel, a pawl carried by said barrel, and meansfor rotating said barrel to Wind the spring and a stop projection, asc1, on the barrel, which engages the stop projection, as 010, on thedriving-wheel, substantially as described.

8. In a non-interference signal-box, signaling mechanism, anon-interference magnet and its armature, a signal-controller governedby said armature, a bar as b" carried by one of the moving parts of thetrain havinga pin engaged by said signal-controller, means for movingthe said bar to disengage it from the signal-controller and release thetrain substantially as described.

9. In a signal-box, a signaling-train, combined with a windin gmechanism therefor, consisting of a barrel and toothed driving wheel, amain spring connected at one end to the barrel and at the other end tothe wheel, a ratchet-Wheel, a paivl carried by said barrel, a camprojection carried by the toothed wheel, which co-operates with saidpawl when the spring is Wound up substantially as described.

10. In a signal-box, a signaling-train, combined With a stopping devicecomprising an independently-movable member carried by one of the movingparts of the train and a cooperating member, and a hand-operated pullfor moving said independently-movable member into and out ofco-operation With the said co operatin g member substantially asdescribed.

ll. In a non-interference signal-box, signaliug mechanism having asignal-Wheel and si glial-key, a non-interference magnet and itsarmature, a signal-controller governed by said armature, and meanscontrolled by the train in running which holds the signal-key with itscircuit-contacts closed for a predetermined length of time just beforethe beginning of a round of the box-number, during which time thesignal-controller is free to act to mechanically lock the signal-keywith its circuit-contacts closed, substantially as described.

12. In a signal-box, a signal-train, a noninterference magnet and itsarmature, combined with a signal-key having two parts or portions, oneof which is governed by the signal-Wheel and the other by the train inrunning, said train co-operating With said key to prevent its co-operation with the signal- Wheel, and also to maintain the circuitclosed for a predetermined length of time j ust before the beginning ofa round of the box-number, substantially as described.

13. In a non-interference signa'l-bomsignaling mechanism comprising asignal-Wheel and signaling-key, a non-interference magnet and itsarmature, and a signal-controller governed by said armature, and also bytwo members of the train in running, one of which members, as thesignal-Wheel, allows said signal-controller freedom of action on4closures of the circuit during the transmission of the signal, and theother, as the holder e, allows said signal-controller freedom of actionfor an interval of time longer than the longest closure in any signal,after the pull has been operated and before the transmission of thefirst impulse of the signal, substantially as described.

14. Inasuccessive non-interference signalbox, signaling mechanism, anon-interference magnet and its armature adapted to move out of itsmagnetic field, combined with signal controlling and retainingmechanism, operated to retain a set signal by the said armature whenmoved out of its magnetic field, and to release said retained signalwhen said armature is restored 5 timing mechanism for holding thesignaling circuit closed a longer time than the longest closure in anysignal before giving the control of the line to the signalwheel,substantially as described.

15. In a non-interference signal-box, a signal-train, a non-interferencemagnet and its armature, combined with a stopping device for the train,one member of which operates to hold the said armature in its attractedposition, substantially as described.

16. In a signal-box, a train, a main actuating-spring therefor, adriving-Wheel for the train connected With one end of said spring, awinding-disk connected with the other end of said spring, alocking leveror stop for the train, a pull for simultaneously winding the spring andreleasing the locking-lever toset the train in condition to transmit itssignal, a pawl and ratchet for holding the Windingdisk against backwardrotation, and a disen- IOO IIO

gaging device for said pavvl which prevents overwinding of the spring,but does not interfere with the action of the pull, substantially asdescribed.

17. In a signal-box, a signaling train, a main actuating-springtherefor, a stop for the train, and operating device for Winding thespring and setting the signaling-train in condition to transmit itssignal, a pawl and ratchet for preventing the backward action 0f thespring, and a disengaging device for said paWl, operating when thespring is wound up, substantially as described.

18. In a signal-box, a signaling-train, and stop therefor, a mainactuating-Spring for said train connected at one end with thedrivingwheel of the train, and at the other end with a Winding device, ahand-lever for turning said winding device and also for setting thesignaling-train in condition t'o transmit its signal, a pawl and ratchetto prevent backward action of said spring, and a disengaging device forsaid pawl operating when the sprin g is wound up, to prevent overwindingof the spring without interfering with the action of the hand-lever,substantially as described.

19. In a signal-box, a signaling-train, and stop therefor, a mainactuatingspring for said train connected at one end with thedrivingwheel of the train, and at the other end with a winding device, ahand-lever for turning said winding device and also for settingthesignaling-train in condition to transmit itssignal, a pawl andratchet to prevent backward action of said spring, and a disengagingdevice for said pawl carried by said drivingwheel.

20. In a non-interference signal-box, a signal-train, a mainactuating-spring therefor, a locking-lever for said train governed bythe armature of the non-interference magnet, a hand-operated pull forsetting the signalingtrain in condition to transmit its signal, aconnection between said pull and the main spring whereby the spring maybe wound by said pull when operated, and a disengaging device whichprevents 'overwindin'g of the spring Without interfering with theoperation of the pull, substantially as described.

21. In a signal-box, the combination of a signaling-train, a signal-key,a non-interference magnet, and its armature, which Whenever retractedmechanically locks the signaling-key with its circuit-contacts closed,substantially as described.

22. In a signal-bozgthe combination of a signaling-train, a signal-key,a non-interference magnet, and its armature, which Whenever retractedmechanically locks the signalkey with its circuit-contacts closed, andsaid key Whenever operated to open the circuit mechanically locks thearmature in its attracted position, substantially as described.

23. In a non-interference signal-box, a signaling mechanism having asignal-wheel, a signal-key, a non-interference magnet and its armature,a signal-controller governed by said armature, which is free to retracton closures of the circuit at the home box, and Whenever it retractslocks the signaling-key with its circuit-contacts closed, substantiallyas described.

In testimony Whereof I have signed my name to this speciication in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK NV. COLE. Vitnesses:

BERNICE J. NOYES, EDWARD F. ALLEN.

